Share This article

Kicking off the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin, the HDMI Forum has released HDMI 2.0. HDMI 2.0 introduces support for 4K (2160p) at 50 and 60 FPS, 3D playback at 4K resolution, up to 32 audio channels (up from a paltry eight), and some interesting features such as “dynamic auto lip-sync” and the ability to deliver dual video streams to multiple users on the same screen. The max throughput of HDMI 2.0 is a beefy 18Gbps (up from 10Gbps), and you’ll be glad to hear that your stupidly expensive HDMI cable will continue to work with the new spec.

HDMI 2.0 is the first major update to the HDMI specification since version 1.4, which was released way back in 2009. 1.4a and 1.4b were released in 2010 and 2011 respectively, but they mostly focused on support for 3D — which, as we now know, is dead. HDMI 2.0, you’ll be glad to hear, shifts the focus back towards what the interface was originally designed to do: transfer high-definition multimedia content. To this end, the main change in HDMI 2.0 is improving the per-channel bandwidth from 3.4Gbps to 6Gbps, allowing for higher-resolution audio and video to be transferred. (See: Xbox One and PS4: Analyzing their support for 4K video and gaming.)

The HDMI spec calls for three discrete channels, which are primarily used to carry three different kinds of data/signal: The DDC (display data channel) negotiates which audio/video formats are supported by the receiver, and is used for HDCP (content protection DRM); TMDS (transition minimized differential signaling) carries the actual audiovisual data; and CEC (consumer electronics control) is a channel that allows the user to control HDMI-connected devices via a universal remote, or alternatively allows HDMI devices to control the TV/other HDMI devices. (For example, Google Chromecast uses the CEC command One Touch Play to automatically switch to the Chromecast when it begins playback).

As far as I can tell, all three channels can be used for audiovisual data, for a combined total of 18Gbps — but this only helps if you want to display three separate images. I don’t think you can combine all three channels to create a single 18Gbps, ultra-high-resolution feed. 6Gbps is enough to carry 4K video at 60 fps, or 3D 4K at 30 fps, along with 32 audio channels, and that seems to be the limit of the HDMI 2.0 spec. The DDC and CEC channels don’t require anywhere near 6Gbps (more like Kbps and Mbps), so most of the remaining 12Gbps will go to waste — unless you use HDMI 2.0’s new “dual video streams” function, which presumably uses two TMDS channels to display two video feeds on a single display. (Or maybe it just halves the main TMDS channel — we’ll probably have to wait a few more months for the spec’s exact details to become public.)

HDMI 2.0 also introduces support for the 21:9 aspect ratio, up to 1536KHz audio sampling, and “dynamic synchronization of video and audio streams.” We’re not entirely sure what the last one means, but the press release suggests that it will help with lip syncing.

HDMI 2.0 uses the same connector and cables as HDMI 1.4, but there’s no easy way to upgrade HDMI 1.4 devices to 2.0. The HDMI Forum notes that it’s possible for manufacturers to provide a firmware and/or hardware upgrade to enable HDMI 2.0, and we presume that Panasonic, LG, Sharp, and anyone else who has already released a 4K display is looking at providing such an update, primarily to enable 4K @ 50 and 60 fps. We expect the first HDMI 2.0 devices to be shown off at IFA over the next week, and they should begin to hit the market in the next few months.

6 bucks from Radio-shack, they even have a gold contact! I bought like 4 of them, and now anytime I get new electronics I just pull one out fresh from the bag.

tgrech

You can buy perfectly adeuate ones at Poundland now(Around $1.55/$1.30 with VAT removed). I don’t see any reason for gold plating with digital connections and they’re more than strong enough to last.

Techutante

Yeah, I’d pay that too. I was mostly kidding about the gold plating. Those 100 dollar monster cables are gold all over.

Techutante

6 bucks from Radio-shack, they even have a gold contact! I bought like 4 of them, and now anytime I get new electronics I just pull one out fresh from the bag.

pixelstuff

Or Monoprice.com

James Tolson

Pmsl @ this, back in the day u never had RF 2.0? Scart 2.0? i really miss the analogue days. this digital malarkey is just yet more ways to keep selling us stuff we don’t need and don’t really want, my 2007 hd ready (720p) 42 inch plasma will still serve me for many many years to come, if it ever dies, ill repair it, it is a great tv, built really really well.. so called (smart) tv’s now are rubbish cost reduced junk. they don’t even have many inputs except HDMI? what if i want to plug in a component signal in? i can’t!! scart? i can’t!! svideo? i can’t!! composite? I can’t!!!, RF (making use of the analogue tuner?) guess wot i CAN’T…

i just want i visual devise that supports legacy analogue inputs, so i can plug in my laserdisc players, hi8 and vhs recoders, legacy games consoles and computers etc etc, im not interested in crap i can do already on my ps3 built into the tv? makes no sense wot soever!!!

Techutante

I had a Samsung 55″ a couple years ago that had literally 2 full redundant sets of inputs, as well as a full set of outputs on the back. And 3 USB ports. All in a skinny light LED TV.

Nate Opgenorth

You just have to look at the right TV. my TV has dual component and dual composite in with VGA, 3 HDMI’s, Optical, 3.5inch audio, and Svideo. Its a 2011 Samsung 55″. While the Smart TV’s generally have like 20 overkill useless HDMI ports and nothing else you can still get a non-smart TV that generally speaking has the same exact display as the smart TV but has actual useful inputs. My Xbox360 is component only, their is NO HDMI option, it is not hidden it is a rare version with no HDMI what so ever so my options are component or VGA or composite. Thankfully my TV happily takes a 1080p signal in from component HD cables which is not common I guess.

pixelstuff

So we have a new spec for HDMI, but why hasn’t HDBaseT caught on more than it has. It’s not like they can only fit one video port in a device. I want to see TVs, Blu-ray players, and Recievers with HDBaseT RJ45 Jacks.

Plus, Cat6 cable is significantly cheaper and easier to run through a house than HDMI cable.

How_delightful

4K 3D ?
Magic if they can get that without glasses.
And “No, we are not bothered if the FoV is around 120-Degrees; SIT IN FRONT of the Tv if you want to watch; no need for a silly array of cameras; but make sure the mic and skype camera have hard off switches; we dont want the Yanks spying in our homes.”

Janez Horvat

Lets
be straight.You will need 4k projector or UHD TV with 2.0 hdmi input
, AV receiver with hdmi 2.0 imputs-autputs,and bluray player with hdmi
2.0
output.AND if you want to download UHD torrents and watch them on 4k
projector -guess-you will need a computer with hdmi 2.0. (When the time
comes-that is).In the mean time will be of course allso HDMI 2.1 ,2.2
ect….Discussion on curent HDMI cables-are they compatibile or not is
pointless.The current chips in todays consumer electronic are -1.4 HDMI-
is
obsolete.For 2.0 HDMI is all new world.New procesors that can handle 4K
60p.Software of todays 2.0 hdmi is youst scratching surface and its too
soon to buy something that is in early stages of construction- Unless if you
want to run games on 4k 30 Hz.Who does?

P.S There is another thing to consider. WILL all this money spend on new

equipment with hdmi 2.0(receiver,4k projector or lcd,oled tv,bluray

player,computer,cameras,ps or xbox…. ect…) outhweigh all production avaliable on future

market? NOT at ALL. Tv shows ar bad or worse(excluded some

techshows,geographic, documentary…) movies are tenager oriented-the

easiest way to plunder money from-.and the games are you know -repeating -endllesly-remake,

all by itself. Did anyone mentioned UHD 6K or 8K ? In 8 to 10 years

will be all over again. New codec,new HDMI standard
– brand new better processors…ect… AND last but not least-for big
corporations to make lots and lots of money,and for

Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Copyright 1996-2015 Ziff Davis, LLC.PCMag Digital Group All Rights Reserved. ExtremeTech is a registered trademark of Ziff Davis, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis, LLC. is prohibited.